DIRECTV NOW: What to Know about Streaming Local Channels

Does DIRECTV NOW include Local Channels? What local channels are available on my account? It says I should get local channels, but what if it’s not showing on my TV guide?

When it comes to local channels, there are a lot of scenarios that can be played out that may raise some questions about your local channel availability. Here are some guidelines to review about watching local channels with DIRECTV NOW. Enter your zip code and find out exactly what local affiliates are available.

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There are several variables that we have to factor in when considering watching local channels:

Select Markets: Where we’re actually offering local channels.

Billing Address: Where you’re billed must be in the select market to view that local channel.

Streaming Address: Where you’re streaming must be in the geo-location of the select market to view that local channel.

My billing address is “Metrocity”, and I want to stream ABC in “Metrocity”

My billing address is “Metrocity”, but I want to stream ABC in “Suburbtown”

Depends!? -- Well, let’s also keep in mind that the exact affiliate matters.

Here’s what we mean. If the affiliates are the same:

BUT if the affiliates are different, treat it as if it’s a different local channel:

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If you’re having issues where a local channel is available in your zip-code, but it’s not showing on your app, this may be for you.

In addition to what we’ve mentioned above, if your device location zip-code does not match your billing zip-code, you will not be able to view a local channel (even if it's affiliate is available on both zip-codes).

Here’s how to find your device location zip-code on a Roku:

Go on the DIRECTV NOW app

Go to Settings

Go to About

See display for both billing and location.

Check the Help Center look-up tool to see if the locals are in both zip-codes.

Don’t have a Roku?

You can reach out to our chat teams – just let them know that you want to verify that both your billing location and device location zip-codes offer the locals.

If you’re still having issues?

Keep in mind, your IP address can change due to things like reboots in your router. When this happens, the IP address from your Internet Provider may come from a different zip code where DIRECTV NOW locals are not available. You can consider purchasing a Static IP Address, but to do so, you have to go through your Internet provider.

Broadcast Channels

I live in a rural area in Burnsville, North Carolina where we can not receive any broadcast channels (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, PBS, etc). Why can DirecTV Now not provide those channels to me? It seems that would not violate any current licenses deals those local channels have as I am not their customer now. If DirecTV Now could provide those channels to me; then they would have a winner. Will DirecTV Now turn those channels on for Me?

Re: Local Channel Streaming with DIRECTV NOW

There is just ONE problem with this approach. What if you live in a rural area where there are NO local channels? There is no OTA broadcast. I thought that is what Streaming is for. To get that content to those that can't get it. If we can not get OTA, then we should be able to select the broadcast channels we want from what you have available. We are not taking from local markets. Wake up AT&T, this is an opportunity. We should be able to pick from your list and get the content. The advertisers would like it to.